Former U.S. Embassy in Iran: mistrust endures where hostages held

By Jennifer Rizzo, CNN

Updated 8:49 PM ET, Thu January 30, 2014

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Photos:Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran

Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran – A view of the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran. Once a prison for over 50 American hostages nearly 35 years ago, the two-story building is run by the Iranian government and has been turned into an Islamic cultural center and a propaganda museum of sorts for the Islamic Revolution. CNN's Jim Sciutto visited the facility. See the photo gallery.

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Photos:Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran

Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran – This door with a combination lock led to the secure section of the embassy where the Iranians said the CIA operated.

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Photos:Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran

Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran – According to the Iranian tour guide, this was communications equipment used by the CIA to spy on the Iranians.

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Photos:Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran

Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran – U.S. Embassy staff is said to have used shredders -- like this one -- to try to destroy secret documents as the Iranian students took over.

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Photos:Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran

Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran – A teletype machine and a primitive fax machine were found in the secure area of the embassy.

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Photos:Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran

Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran – Messages in English and in Farsi saying "Greetings to Khomenei."

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Photos:Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran

Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran – This mat, which lies at the entrance to the secure part of the embassy, is an example of the anti-American propaganda there today. In Farsi, the writing says "Death to America."

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Photos:Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran

Inside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran – Scene from outside the former U.S. Embassy in Tehran.

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Story highlights

CNN tours old embassy building in Tehran - part time warp, part propaganda museum

It shows no sign of terror around 1979-81 hostage crisis

But counter area where U.S. Marine guards had been posted still intact

Murals reinforce conspiracy theories around 9/11 attacks

Nearly 35 years ago, Iranian revolutionaries stormed the U.S. embassy in Tehran and began a painful chapter for America as the "Great Satan."

Today, the building where anti-Americanism raged and captives were held for 444 days is now an Islamic cultural center and a propaganda museum of sorts for the Islamic Revolution.

CNN's Chief National Security Correspondent Jim Sciutto visited the complex this week. It is rare for westerners to walk its halls.

Although the two-story building shows no signs of terror from the 1979-81 hostage crisis, it remains a symbol of mistrust that still endures for many.

Upon entering, the counter area where U.S. Marine guards had been posted when the embassy was seized is intact, as is the colorful tile work on some of the walls.

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There are offices on the first floor, while exhibits are displayed on the second.

Upstairs is an office where CNN's guide says the CIA was housed. The entrance is the door to a vault.

"Is it the same combination that it was?" Sciutto asks.

"Yes," the guide responds, explaining the students who stormed the building extracted the combination from hostages during what he said were "negotiations."

Past the vault door, the Iranians claim was the secure section where the CIA worked.

That's a reason the guide gives for the takeover, which was dramatized in the Oscar-winning film Argo.

While many Iranians have grown disillusioned with the Islamic revolution, anti-American anger endures.

"Do you still believe it was justified to hold the Americans as hostages?" the guide is asked.

"Definitely, yes." he says. "Based on international law the U.S. embassy should function as the embassy and not interfere in internal affairs. It's like somebody is snooping around your house. What would you do?"

Each room and every piece of equipment is an exhibit.

There is a sound-proof meeting room, encrypted Telex machines -- one marked as belonging to the National Security Agency -- and the shredders said to have been used by embassy staff to destroy secret documents as the diplomatic facility fell to the revolutionaries.

Revolutionary propaganda is everywhere. Bright red murals cover the main stairway walls leading to the second floor.

The paintings tell a familiar Middle Eastern conspiracy theory claiming the United States was behind the September 11, 2001, attacks.

"Do you believe America brought down the twin towers?" the guide is asked about the World Trade Center in New York.

"For sure, yes," he replies adamantly.

Why would America would kill its own people?

"They wanted to make their people believe they are in danger so they could attack other countries," he says. "Do you think that it's possible a plane can crash such a building?"

Officially, the United States and Iran have softened their tone more recently.

The two are participating in international negotiations to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions over the long term in exchange for easing economic sanctions. An interim deal is in place for the next six months.

"Let's say America and Iran both abide by the agreement. Can you ever imagine American diplomats returning to this embassy?" Sciutto asks the guide.